Being a graphic designer is one of the most in-demand careers today because every industry needs graphic design and there are a wide range of jobs available. In a world where graphic designers can work virtually anywhere and service any client from across the globe, some businesses prefer to work with designers who are local to their area.
You can’t just set up shop on Fiverr or Upwork to get these local clients — you have to engage in local marketing. To reach clients where you live, you need to get yourself in front of these businesses more directly and increase your local visibility.
Keep reading to learn more about local marketing and the strategies you can use to increase your local client base.
The Importance of Local Marketing
Local marketing is a specific marketing strategy that targets and reaches customers who live and make purchases in a specific area.
Although this approach is ideal for businesses with brick-and-mortar stores, it can also apply to companies operating online, such as your graphic design business.
Local marketing is important and effective if you can serve a specific location because it can help you tap into new audiences, boost your search engine rankings, drive online traffic, and get more jobs and clients.
On top of this, local marketing can be a vital component in establishing your graphic design business as a key figure in your local community. Marketing locally is an excellent way to build yourself up, especially if you’re just starting to make a name for yourself within the creative industry.
Strategies To Promote Your Graphic Design Business Locally
If you’re ready to take the next step in promoting your graphic design business in your local area, here are some strategies to help you get started.
Get Your Business Listed in Local Directories
One way to promote your business locally is to list your business in as many reputable local directories as possible.
From graphic design forums and third-party blogs to local business associations and directories, making your services known and easily accessible to the local community is the first step to acquiring the right clients.
By promoting yourself on third party platforms, you widen your reach and open yourself up to their existing consumer base. Just make sure to be consistent with your name, phone number, and address when you list your business in these directories.
Create a Google Business Profile
Another excellent way to promote your business is to create a Google Business Profile so you appear in search results when users search for businesses in the area.
Google Business Profiles are free and grant you access to a wide range of Google’s marketing and analytics tools.
If you’re not convinced yet, take a look at these statistics. According to Google Support, customers are 70% more likely to visit your website or consider your services if you have a complete Google Business Profile. What’s more, 50% are likely to purchase from you or engage with your store.
Work With Other Local Businesses
Did you know that you don’t need to have hundreds of thousands of followers on your social media pages to build trust or gain new customers for your graphic design business?
You can reach a wide audience and sell your services by doing something else — working with other local businesses.
Local businesses with established reputations already have a strong customer base. If they partner with you and promote your business on their pages, you can redirect their loyal followers to your pages. From there, you can start to grow your online presence and build a consistent following of your own.
Join Local Groups
If you’re not ready to partner with other local businesses, an equally effective alternative is to join local groups.
You can start by searching on Facebook for pages that are relevant to your business. Some of these groups conduct local events or online meetups, which are incredible opportunities for you to engage with potential consumers and build a network.
If you want to take it one step further, you can explore joining group memberships that bring small business owners together. Here, you can get to know key players in the community, find possible partnerships in the future, and maybe learn trade secrets to advance your business.
Network and Distribute Marketing Materials
When networking and meeting new people, try to keep your business cards, marketing brochures, and other materials on hand for distribution. Having a card or pamphlet ready will give everyone a better idea of who you are, what you’re promoting, and how it can benefit them.
Handing someone a business card, sticker, or flier is a great way to capture that person’s attention longer and make it easy for them to reach you if they want to hire you.
Create Blog Content Specific to Your Area
Creating a blog section on your website is one of the most effective ways to draw more customers to your site. You can set yourself apart from others who are doing the same thing by sharing content that is unique to your community.
To do this, you need to identify key problems and trends within the local setting and address them through your posts. You can also promote your blogs and capture attention using social media posts and podcasts.
There are a wide variety of content creation opportunities you can try to promote your brand. However, if you decide to focus on the written form, it’s important to familiarize yourself with relevant local keywords to improve your search engine ranking and increase the chances of getting found in local searches.
Localize Paid Advertising
Finally, if after all of these approaches you still need an extra push, you can always rely on local paid advertising. Paid ads can be a powerful tool to reach a specific audience based on location and consumer behavior.
Hire Panda Copy To Help You Out
If you need assistance in promoting your graphic design business online, let the copywriting experts at Panda Copy help you out.
Get unlimited content for your website, enhance your social media presence, and access a wider audience. Flat rate pricing makes budgeting easy and you can scale your plan up or down to suit your needs. Get unlimited content today.
